Today, is Friday, April 23rd, which is the last day of Spring Break, which is a complete and total relief to me because my Zumba classes can resume as usual tomorrow morning and I can finally get the ass-shakin’ fix that I’ve been missing all week. And not only is today the last day of the out-of-my-control Zumba hiatus, but coincidentally it is also The Mommyologist’s six month anniversary!
I started this blog on October 23rd, 2009, and here I sit exactly six months later typing my 103rd post. And I can’t even believe where this journey has taken me in that short duration. I am not sure what exactly I expected to happen after I hit that publish button for the very first time, but I can guarantee that I never anticipated becoming this addicted to the wonderful world of the blogosphere. And now that it’s got a hold of me, I know that it will never loosen its grip. And even if it tries to kick me to the curb someday, it better know that this ass-shakin’ diva will hold on for dear life and absolutely refuse to let go.
I thought that a great way to celebrate my half-year anniversary would be to share a few things that I’ve learned along the way that I never could’ve known about blogging when I wrote my very first post. And I’m not talking about the technical stuff here. I’m talking about the more personal aspects of putting your heart and soul into your little corner of cyberspace. Because PERSONAL is exactly what a blog IS. It is YOUR BABY, and it is YOUR JOB to protect and love that child and watch it grow up.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO JUST DON’T “GET” THE WHOLE BLOGGING THING
I don’t know about you, but when I started my blog, I couldn’t wait to run and tell all of my family and friends about it. I emailed the link to everyone on my contact list and posted it to my Facebook page at least a half a dozen times. And for some reason it shocked the hell out of me when every single person in my life didn’t jump for joy and shout from the rooftops that I had somehow stumbled upon greatness and now deserved the title of, well…you know…the “most awesome writer EVER.” (Not that I really thought that then or think that about myself now, but it’s still nice to hear even if it isn’t 100% true).
And it wasn’t that I got any initial criticism from family and friends, it’s just that some of them really just didn’t acknowledge my new “baby” in the slightest. It took me a couple of months to realize that there are definitely people out there who just really don’t understand the whole blog thing. And that doesn’t mean that they don’t care about you or what you are doing, it’s just that since they don’t have a blog, they don’t understand the appeal of it. And that is OK. Because for each person who doesn’t “get it” there is someone in your life who truly DOES “get it”, and those are the people who you need to surround yourself with and turn to for positive influence.
I have a few people in my life (you know who you are) who absolutely 100% support me and take an interest in my pursuits no matter WHAT I am doing. And I’d like to take a minute to thank those awesome people for realizing just how important The Mommyologist is to me and for making an effort to embrace my little venture wholeheartedly. Because whenever I have one of those “not-so-sure-about-things” kind of days (we all have them), these incredible people are the ones who make me feel like a superstar. And I love each and every one of them for it.
My advice to my readers is not to get upset about the “non-getters” in your life, because they still care about you and love you. It’s just that they don’t comprehend the allure of writing a blog. And if they ever do break down and get a blog, support them for sure. Because then they’ll totally understand and they’ll need that camaraderie from someone “in the know.”
SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST AREN’T GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU
This was a tough one for me, ladies and gentlemen! I don’t know why it never dawned on me at first that by putting myself out there and expressing my opinions on motherhood and life in general, I was pretty much setting myself up for the naysayers to try and knock me down off my high-horse. The first time that I received criticism about The Mommyologist, I went into full on defense mode. And that’s the NICE way of saying exactly how I behaved.
As hard as it is to digest, when you are putting your thoughts and feelings out there for the world to see, there are just bound to be some people who don’t like what you have to say. And if you completely obsess over their negativity (like I did at first), it can put you in a really bad place. I know that when it first happened to me, I doubted myself. I questioned the decision to write this blog. And at times I even pondered the quality of my character a little. But then I remember why I started The Mommyologist, and I remembered that my goal of making people laugh and eliminating feelings of isolation among mothers was just way too important to let my vision fall to the wayside because of one snarky comment. And I realized that as a writer, I am just bound to encounter some criticism along the way.
Negative feedback and comments can be so hard to take sometimes, but the best thing that you can do for yourself is to see those remarks as a POSITIVE thing, because it means that what you said actually evoked emotion in people, even if that emotion wasn’t necessarily good. It made them THINK. It made them REACT. And that means that your voice was HEARD. Use those dissenting opinions to your advantage and let them give you a CONFIDENCE BOOST.
That is exactly what I do every time that someone leaves a negative comment on my posts. And I usually email them to thank them for boosting my ego and reminding me what an awesome writer I am. And I always feel empowered after I do that. Because I took their negative energy and threw positive right back at them. And positive always triumphs over negative. Try it, it WORKS!
BLOGGING IS MY JOB…EVEN IF I DON’T GET PAID FOR IT. AND YES, FINDING A BALANCE CAN BE TOUGH!
About a week or so ago, I was pumping gas at the station at the bottom of our hill, and I noticed a chalkboard on the outside of the building with the words, “Powerball Jackpot 240 million” (or some other insanely large number) written on it. As I waited for my tank to fill up, I thought about what it would be like to win all that money and not have to worry about anything anymore. My lottery day dreams typically start the same way, and that is with me buying some ginormous house on the coast somewhere, but my second thought in this particular dream surprised me a little. I thought to myself, “We could pick up and move to the coast and then I’d have all the money in the world and could work on my blog all day long!”
They say that if you are doing something you love, you will never work a day in your life again. And that is how I feel about this blog. Even if I won hundreds of millions of dollars, I’d still want to log onto my computer and write every single day. And I’d still continue to grow and develop The Mommyologist into something bigger…even though I’m not exactly sure what “bigger” means at this point.
I guess that blogging and being a mom pretty much go hand in hand, because both of these things are my full-time jobs that I don’t get paid for. Well, at least I don’t get paid in CASH. My son pays me everyday in cuddles and kisses, and unconditional love, and you really just can’t put a price on that. And this blog? It pays me in ways that I never could have imagined, with the connections I’ve made with other bloggers being the highest reward, along with the satisfaction of knowing that I’ve made people laugh or feel better about themselves. Once again, totally priceless.
With all that being said, having these two jobs makes it pretty difficult to find a balance sometimes because I don’t want to neglect either of them. My son is my absolute highest priority in my life, and sometimes that means that building Lego “space vehicles” just has to take precedent over blog hopping and tweeting. And I know that I haven’t been as good about reading other blogs and returning comments these days, but as my blog has grown, so has my workload, and sometimes I just find it impossible to write good content, answer emails, keep up with tweets, and still give my son all of the attention that he so rightly deserves all at the same time.
I love my readers. I love my bloggy friends. And I hope you all know just how much I appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your day to check in and see what The Mommyologist has to say. This blog would be nothing without you.
And I really can’t wait to see what the next six months bring!
ps – Don’t forget that this coming Monday, April 26th is Mom Sexy day!! I can’t wait to tell all of you about my latest efforts to bring Mom Sexy back!
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Happy Anniversary!
Happy Blogversary! (or however the hell you spell that) You’re such an inspiration.
I loved reading this post – it resonates so much as a fellow blogger. Though I admit, I now have a weird desire to leave a snarky comment so I can read exactly what you say in the “thank you emails!”
It is hard to find balance, isn’t it? I have three jobs (one I get paid for) and lordy, there just aren’t enough hours in the day! Good thing I can take “blog breaks” at work!
Happy Anniversary!
That was a great post! I totally agree with everything you said. Lots of people that I know personally read my blog, but they are stalkers. They never comment & that drives me crazy! I would like to have their input sometimes.
Happy Anniversary! I saw you on SITS and am now a follower. I can’t wait to see how you’re bringin Mom Sexy back!
I think you need to have a blog in order to really understand it. Blogging can be a job. Even though I don’t get paid with money for mine, there are other forms of payment. Just like being a mom!
Happy Blogaversary!!
You wrote it – but that story, those thoughts have been in my head for months…. bloggers and non bloggers we can all live happily together….
Way to go! Happy Anniversary.
You are absolutely one of my favorites! Your words of wisdom hold so many truths! Unfortunately, I learned most of these lessons the hard way. I love being a reader, a fan, and a bloggy friend!! =) Happy Bloggoversary!
You are about 2 1/2 months ahead of me, but I have experienced the same things you have. I am floored that I am writing as much as I am and loving every second of it. I look at it as a labor of love. I keep telling my husband that the blog might turn into a book one day and then we will fabulously wealthy. In the meantime, I will keep pecking away at my keyboard and finding the funny things to write about.
Congrats on your first six months!
Happy 6 month anniversary! I hope to have acquired much blogging knowledge by my 6 month anniversary too. It amazes me how new some of my favorite blogs are. I stopped in from SITS, and I’m following you now. Looking forward to reading lots more posts from you.
Happy 6 month Bloggiversary!!! I love reading your blog!! I think you are a great writer and I love that you totaly engage your writers. I struggle with trying to have good content and write stuff that I think other people would enjoy reading….I need to remember too that it’s my blog and do what makes me happy as well!!!
Congrats on your 6 month anniversary! My blog has been around for almost 2 years, but it’s only been public for a few months. I do find it funny that very few of my family members read my blog and none of them ever comment. Except my hubby’s aunt and she’s way cool, so i’m down with that. Ah, well… I suppose it’s probably OK that my brothers-in-law don’t know when I have my period, eh?
Congrats on six months. People ask me all the time about how I can manage to keep up with my blog and work…it’s because while my blog does require work, I love it and don’t see it as work. It’s rewarding.
Great post!
I thought about you today when I heard someone say, “I can’t tonight, I’ve got Zumba.” I didn’t know this girl from Adam but I just had to ask her where she took her classes and how she liked it. We rode the elevator up and down several trips while she expressed her LOOOVE of Zumba. Do they give you guys crack at these classes or what?! And I’ve had a lot of interesting comments from people who “don’t get it” since I started blogging at well. My favorite was, “Why would anyone do that? It’s so self-absorbed!” Need I tell you that the person speaking is one of the MOST self-absorbed people I know? Thankfully we were on the phone and she couldn’t see my big smirky grin
ALways love your thoughts…happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! I’m so happy to be a part of your blog and getting a glimpse of who you are–I adore you and love everything about you & your blog
xoxo
Wow! You’ve achieved quite a lot in 6 months!!! Congrats!
Happy Anniversary. I googled Zumba at work today and it looks so awesome that the whole of my office is going to try a class in a couple of weeks!!! Thanks for inspiring us xx
Happy Anniversary! You’ve accomplished a lot in 6 months!
Celebrate by swinging by my blog and entering for a chance(s) to win my awesome Get Buttoned Up Giveway!
http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2010/04/get-buttoned-up-wgiveaway.html
Dude. When can we go get a drink together? Have you been in my head? Congrats w/your 6 month mark. And talk to me about Zumba. I’ve been doing Jazzercise for a few months now and really enjoy it. Yes, I should just go and take a Zumba, but I’d feel like I was cheating on a boyfriend or something. Is it a sweaty workout? Do you feel like a bad ass? I just need to shake it a little bit, but not too hard (so I’ll keep going) and I sweat enough as it is. So I dunno. The real question I want to ask is, will I have to get a cute top or something if I go to this class, because really I don’t want to have to look ‘cute’ to go workout. Too much damn effort sometimes.
Happy six month anniversary!
I can vouch for you responding with email to “snarky” comments, even if they didn’t mean to be ;D you may or may not remember a certain comment of mine way back when…. Did NOT mean to be mean or snarky, lol! I love your blog! Keep up the great work!
Very good post. And, in all fairness, for some of us blogging serves as a resume for when other opportunities come along. You want a particular type of job and all you have to say is, “read my blog!” Worked for me and it has made my blogging make sense to lots of people in my life. Although, in all honesty, I would do it everyday anyway just because I LOVE it!
Great post, Mommyologist. It is amazing to me how important the blogosphere has become in my life in such a short time as well. Never did I imagine that I would make connections with so many wonderful people who care about the same things I do. And nor did I realize how much fun it would be to read other people’s blogs. Things are really hectic for me right now and I don’t have as much time to blog as I would like, and I find myself missing my favorite bloggers and wondering what their latest posts are about when I haven’t had a chance to stop by in a few days. You are such a thoughtful and fascinating person!! Happy 1/2 year blogoversary!!!
Congratulations! You are an amazing writer and blogger. Keep up the good work!
Happy Anniversay and heres to a lot more
Happy Anniversary! I’ll find out Tuesday first-hand just what you mean with my (official) blog launch! Great to read ya.. Talk Monday!
I’m late with this because we’ve been packing like crazy people, but congrats!
Yay on the 6 months mama – here’s to many more!
6 months!! Whoot and to think of all the fun I’ve missed prior to finding your blog. Well another great posting. Especially the part about the folks who totally don’t get blogging. I too posted on FB and emailed out my link hundreds of times to my non blogging friends and wondered what gives. I know know it’s just not for them. I on the other hand a hooked and reeled in baby. Sorry I’m so late in posting a comment. You know I’m good for it when I actually have the time to do so. LOL we can say remember when and think back on the old blog with it’s clothes line and cute little jumpers hanging BUT ~ the best is yet to come. I look forward to reading your future postings. Monday I start my Diet and workout. I’m going to be Mom Sexy in no time!
Happy semi-anniversary! I know finding time to blog can be tough, especially if you’re a mommy, but letting out whatever ails or elates you is VERY beneficial. Letting people know what you’re going through can help someone and help YOU connect with other people. I’m very happy that you do it and I’m even more happy that you know how, when and why you started.
Keep on truckin’!
Have a sweet Sunday.
Happy Anniversary!!!
I have only been blogging for two months but like you I love it, look forward to it, am amazed at how many new blogging friendships I am developing and also at how much I enjoy reading other great blogs out there. I did not tell friends and family about my blog and still have not, however my husband knows and definitely does not “get” the new love in my life although he can see it is bringing me satisfaction and a new lease of life.
So Happy six month anniversary to you! May you continue blogging to your heart’s content! I look forward to following your adventures!
I cannot believe your blog has become so popular in just six months! Good for you.
This was a very good post. FInding the balance is so hard but very well worth it…..I also put ml blog link on my facebook page, not one single person read it! Oh well, life (and writing) goes on.
Looking forward to tomorrows post.
Congrats on the 6 months! I totally agree how some people just don’t get the whole blogging thing. When I talk to them about it they look at me and say “what is blogging?”…but thankfully I found a few friends that recently have gotten into blogging.
Anyway, love your blog…always fun to read!
6 months already!!! Wow it is amazing how fast times flies. i have a been a follower of you from the beginning. I think I was like follower 63 or something. I have loved watching you grow. It is so inspiring. I know you are going to do great things with Mommyologist…like write a book or something of sort.
Congrats Girl!! And looking forward to mom sexy tomorrow.
I think these are great points. Especially with respect to the balance thing. It’s so hard! Congrats on the six month anniversary. I’ve loved being a bloggy friend along the ride!
Happy Blogaversary! I just got a chance to sit down and read this (have been out of town) and I loved your point about the people in your life who just do not get blogging. I’ve experienced that lately, too.
Here’s to blogging and all those bloggy friends who DO get it! Congratulations to you!